What's Happening in Taganga?
When I met Haider, we'd collect bottle tops, bits of glass and all sorts of other treasures hidden in the sand. We'd make sea glass windows and wonder what if people could see this trash as currency, as the value it truly is? Maybe then we'd finally have clean streets and beaches.
It seemed like an impossible dream, something out of a story book.
But as I’ve come to know Haider, as I’ve grown to love Taganga, I realize now that the people in this town are far from "ignorant" to the issues. This dream is not so unrealistic at all.
On the contrary, this town is organizing and ready to welcome visionary partners who share their same dream. Will you be part of history and help Taganga become The Carribbean's First 90% Zero-Waste Town?
Taganga was once a small fishing town. That was how everyone made their living—catching fish, selling fish, sharing fish at family tables. A river ran through the heart of the pueblo, where people washed their clothes and carried water back to their homes.
There were no lights after sunset. No plastic bottles or bags drifting in the sea. Nights were quiet, families gathered close, and life followed the rhythm of the ocean.
That was only thirty years ago.
And now—look at it.
Away from the tourist areas, it’s easy to forget what’s really happening. Without containers, trash piles up at the edge of town and the wind scatters it across the mountains. What stays hidden from visitors is part of daily life here — and part of why we’re fighting for a zero-waste Taganga.
Sunday night in Taganga, outside the church. The tourists are gone, but the trash remains. By Monday it will be cleaned — but not before the wind and rain drag it through the streets and into the sea. This cycle has to end.
Away from the tourist areas, it’s easy to forget what’s really happening. Without containers, trash piles up at the edge of town and the wind scatters it across the mountains. What stays hidden from visitors is part of daily life here — and part of why we’re fighting for a zero-waste Taganga.
From Trash to Treasure: A Zero-Waste Future
What if every piece of plastic on this beach was actually gold? What if it could be restored, converted or sold? What if Taganga could build it's own recycling and art center, to show the rest of the neighboring towns exactly how prosperity is sown.
We believe that's possible. And one by one, the people of Taganga are joining our mission, proving that they too believe in this dream. That Taganga could actually become
The Caribbean’s First 90% Zero-Waste Town
We could actually break history...again.
Why Taganga? Why Now?
"We have the oldest church in all of South America sitting right in our town. We have fishermen that still fish with harpoons and nets. This is much more than just about plastic, it's about honoring and preserving our culture and preparing Tagangueros for what comes next." ~Haider Sanchez
What comes next could be two very different futures. One path is familiar: an influx of mass tourism, quick hotel deals, and locals selling their land for short-term gain. We’ve seen it happen in places like Hawai‘i, where once-pristine coastlines became overwhelmed by outside development.
But Taganga deserves a different story. This place is too breathtaking to be overrun, its wildlife too fragile to be sacrificed. And Colombia itself—often dismissed as “third world”—is in truth one of the most stunning countries on Earth, consistently ranked among the top three most beautiful in the world as it is officially one of the most biodiverse and naturally rich countries. Colombia is a hidden gem compared to the usual names on Americans’ bucket lists
Here in Taganga, we have the chance to show what it means to protect beauty before it’s lost—to prove that a community can thrive while safeguarding its culture, ocean, and land.
Be Part of History
Come stand with us as we transform a fishing village into a model for the world. You can:
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Volunteer in Taganga – Join our hands-on program and witness the change with your own eyes. From clean-ups to teaching, from recycling to art, you’ll be part of history in the making.
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Support from afar – Every dollar helps us build the first Recycling + Sustainable Art Center in the region.
We’re currently seeking U.S. fiscal sponsorship through Social Good Impact, which will allow your contributions to be fully tax-deductible. Until then, your early support still fuels the movement — and shows Taganga that the world is cheering them on.
Will you plant a seed with us today?
Two seeds, one shared mission.
Planting Good Seeds was born internationally to protect our shared oceans, while La Semilla Taganguera was created locally by and for Tagangueros to safeguard the natural beauty and cultural heritage of their town.
Together, we act as sister organizations: one rooted in the soil of Taganga, the other branching outward to connect supporters around the world.
